EP. 153: How to Start a War- The Warfield and Snively Raids

EP. 153: How to Start a War- The Warfield and Snively Raids

Author: Ken Wise August 16, 2026 Duration: 38:16

Show Notes
The 1842 Mexican invasions of Texas and their aftermath, including the Mier expedition and the Black Bean Incident.
Sam Houston's use of privateer-style commissions, authorizing Charles Warfield and later Jacob Snively to raise private forces against Mexican trade on the Santa Fe Trail.
Warfield's failed raid near Mora, New Mexico, and his men's 200-mile walk back to Bent's Fort after losing their horses.
The unrelated robbery and murder of Santa Fe merchant Antonio José Chávez, and its effect on U.S.–Texas–Mexico relations.
Snively's Battalion of Invincibles, their march to the Arkansas River, and their lopsided victory over Governor Manuel Armijo's advance scouts.
Armijo's retreat to Santa Fe and the U.S. Army's intervention under Captain Philip St. George Cooke, including his disputed disarming of the Texans.
The diplomatic fallout: Santa Anna's closure of the Santa Fe Trail, Texas's formal protest, and the military court of inquiry into Cooke's conduct.
The shift from Lamar's aggressive New Mexico policy to Houston's peace-seeking approach, and how the boundary dispute was eventually settled in the Compromise of 1850.
The later lives of the expeditions' key figures, including Jacob Snively, Charles Warfield, and Captain Philip Cooke.

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There’s a particular feeling you get standing on a wide stretch of prairie or walking through a quiet courthouse square that seems to hold a century of stories. Wise About Texas is about uncovering those stories, layer by layer, with the kind of depth and context that makes the past feel immediate. Hosted by Ken Wise, each episode goes beyond the well-trodden tales of the Alamo and cowboy legends to explore the people, places, and pivotal moments that truly shaped this unique state. You’ll hear about forgotten communities, surprising cultural intersections, and the everyday lives that built Texas from the ground up. This isn’t just a dry recitation of dates; it’s a thoughtful exploration that connects history to the landscape you can visit today. Whether you’re a lifelong resident, a curious newcomer, or someone planning a trip with a desire to understand what you’re seeing, this podcast serves as an engaging guide. Tune in for narratives that are meticulously researched yet told with a conversational ease, making each chapter of Texas history accessible and genuinely compelling. The aim is to leave you not just better informed, but with a richer sense of the spirit and complexity that defines the Lone Star State.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

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